Chapter 70

Chapter 70

Alessia’s POV

“No, Lucy. You can’t have that yet. It’s still hot,” I tell Lucy as she tries to sneakily reach for the plate of cookies on the table. Like I didn’t hear her heavy footsteps. She grumbles and stumps her feet, bringing a soft smile to my face.

Another day of no training and like always, I choose to spend it with the pack kids. The kids are playing outdoors while I’m seated on the patio and lazing on a soft ottoman, and making an impression of watching the kids. A very lousy impression by the way. Currently, a kid named Vince has managed to swallow two bugs and Hensley and Ophelia have each other in a tight jaw lock. Not the mention the fact that Lucy is trying to sneak a cookie into her mouth. Again.

Oh well, I can’t possibly save them all. Sometimes, kids just have to learn things the hard way. I smile as Lucy yelps and blows at her open mouth that has a hot cookie in it. Exactly as I said. Kids just have to learn the hard way.

I sigh,

Ignoring her cries and reaching for the glass of soft drink that’s on a table beside me. I take a sip.

sighing as the cool liquid slides down my throat, making my muscles relax.

A shadow appears by the corner of my

huge grin on her face. “I’ve finally go I lift my head and find Theresa looking down at me with a Oh no.

all alone without my Grandson acting as your bodyguard.”

Recently, Theresa has been showing up more often under the guise of playing with her granddaughter because her time left on Earth isn’t that long. This is coming from someone that I once saw lifting a couch all on her own to get a biscuit that slid under it..

We all know why she has been coming. Caden especially, and he has always made sure to be present whenever she was around. Except today.

I gulp as she settles into the other ottoman beside mine. I reach for my drink again, downing it all at once for some ment a l strength. I’m going to be needing a whole lot of that to get through this conversation.

“So, where are you from?” She asks, going straight for the kill. A trait that I would normally admire in a person but today, I just wish that she would have the little talks first. I would definitely love to talk about how bright and sunny the weather is. I most especially wouldn’t mind if she decided to talk about what she had for breakfast this morning. Any of those topics will be better than the one that we’re about to have..

“I’m from around here. Just outside the pack boulders,” I answer, praying she won’t dig deeper into my answers. But of course, my prayers never get answered.

“Any pack that I know of? And what of your parents? When are they going to introduce themselves to me?” She asks innocently and I balk. I know she means well but I really wish that she wouldn’t push me on this. “What’s wrong, Dear?” She asks, probably noticing the look on my face and my very obvious mood change.

“I-i-”

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Chapter 70

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Her face falls. “I’m sorry if I’m being nosy. I just want to know more about you….but it’s alright if you would rather be left alone.”

She makes a move to stand up from her seat and I stop her with a hand on her hand. “My Mother passed away and I don’t really know much about my father. Sadly, they aren’t going to be able to visit any time soon. I try to pass it off as a joke by smiling at her as I shrug my shoulders.

She doesn’t buy it.

“I’m sorry about that, dear. It must be very hard for you to be all on your own. I remember when I lost my mate. It was the harder thing.” She smiles weakly at me and my throat tightens up. “You aren’t alone anymore though.” She squeezes the hand on hers. “You have us now and I don’t care if you come from a pack or not. You’re now a member of this pack.” Her words are said with reverence and strength, and they bring tears to my eyes.

I stiffen, turning my gaze to the kids still playing around and trying to kill themselves, because I can’t bear to hold her gaze when she’s looking at me with that expression on her face. An expression that I never expected to see on a face that doesn’t belong to my Mom.

“Thank you.” My words come out choked up from the lump in my throat. I clear my throat, trying to get rid of that lump so I don’t end up embarrassing myself.

She pats my hand once, twice and pulls away, her gaze also turning to the kids in front of us. “I’m sure you can’t wait for you kids with Caden to be among them.” She sighs wistfully while I’m trying to pick up my jaw from the ground. I’m suddenly reminded of why Caden never wants me to be left alone with her.

“Caden and I aren’t together.” I don’t think of it before the words are out and as her thunderous gaze turns to me, I suddenly wish I could take those words back.

“What do you mean by you’re not together?” She asks incredulously. “You’re fated mates. What could be more together than that?” Her voice increases with each word that come out of her mouth.

I open my mouth to find a way to salvage the damage that I’ve done. “We-

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“Theresa, Caden’s voice booms as he approaches us with a glare on his face. A glare that’s fixed on his grandmother. He comes to a halt when he’s standing in front of us. “You didn’t tell me that you were going. to be visiting today.”

She doesn’t answer him. Instead, she levels him with a glare of her own and Igulp, wondering how to get out of the middle of a possible fight.